Eddie Van Halen Donates 75 Guitars From His Collection to L.A. Public Schools

Suddenly band class in Los Angeles just got a whole lot cooler. Eddie Van Halen has donated 75 guitars from his personal collection to music programs in the L.A. area. The rocker teamed up with the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation to provide instruments to schools without enough for students to play.

“Music education and families are dealing with the economic times, and I wanted to help them,” Van Halen said in a statement. “If I can help a kid discover a liking, or even a passion for music in their life, then that’s a wonderful thing. Music has provided a good life for me and hopefully it can help make life better for others with this donation.”

“Music kept me off the streets and out of trouble and gave me something that was mine (“all mine“? ) that no one could take away from me.”

The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation donates musical instruments to under-funded music programs across the nation. According to the charity’s website, it was inspired by the Richard Dreyfuss movie of the same name. Michael Kamen, who also composed the music for the film, began the foundation in 1996.

Eddie Van Halen and his bandmates are clearly in good spirits as they prepare to embark on a 2012 tour and release their first album with David Lee Roth in almost 30 years. ‘A Different Kind of Truth‘ will be in stores on Feb. 7. The tour kicks off in Louisville, Ky. on Feb. 18.

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